Solar-powered sterilization of medical equipment
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ID
149523
Owner
MIT and IIT Bombay
Uploaded by
WIPO GREEN Admin
Type
Technology
Source
User uploads
Published
2024/08/12
Updated
2024/09/04
Email Owner
MIT and IIT Bombay
The use of solar thermal energy for autoclaves is not new and has been used since the 1970’s. In recent years, more innovators have been trying to find new and cost-effective designs suitable for rural healthcare purposes. Among them are researchers from MIT and IIT Bombay, who developed a novel solar-powered system that sterilizes medical tools, making it particularly valuable for regions lacking reliable energy sources. The system uses a portable solar energy collector and a transparent, thermally insulating aerogel to generate high-temperature, high-pressure steam, which drives a small-clinic autoclave. Unlike conventional solar-powered sterilization systems, this innovative design is entirely passive, with no moving parts, and offers high energy efficiency. While not commercialized yet, the system's simplicity, modularity and potential for low-cost mass production could make it an ideal solution for sterilizing medical equipment in remote areas.
Image: Courtesy of the researchers. Edited by MIT News.
Image: Courtesy of the researchers. Edited by MIT News.
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